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ABC TV Indigenous Programs Unit

GPO Box 9994
Sydney NSW 2001

p. 02 8333 4014
f. 02 8333 4019
www.abc.net.au/message

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2 Live 2 Deadly
- 2009
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
From humble beginnings operating out of a terrace house in Redfern 20 years ago, the Aboriginal voice on Sydney radio has struggled to seal its place on the city's airwaves. For Koori Radio, its roller-coaster ride in the battle for a fulltime on-air licence ended in success back in 2002. And since then the station's gone from strength to strength with the broadcaster opening its new state-of-the-art studio late last year. From the Message Stick series.
4077 - Stylin' Up
- 2007
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
The south-western Brisbane suburb of Inala was originally established to provide affordable accommodation to World War II veterans during the postwar housing shortage. By the early 1960s, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people had also moved to the area and today, nearly eight per cent of residents living in Inala are Indigenous. But over the years the suburb has endured negative press and unwarranted stereotypes. The community has banded together to start a unique Indigenous hip-hop and R’n’B festival called 'Stylin' Up'. From the Message Stick series.
480 Series
- 2012
- Documentary
- 15 x 8mins
- Status: Completed
Hosted by Luke Carroll, 480 will cover themes of ANZAC, MABO and NAIDOC and aim to recognise and celebrate important events and anniversaries occurring in 2012 for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - all in less than 480 seconds.
50 Years Indigenous TV
- 2006
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of television in Australia. What have been the images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on our television screens during this time? What story has been told and from whose perspective? We look at the television being made about Aboriginal people by non-Aboriginal people and the birth of the Aboriginal Programs Unit within the ABC producing programs such as 'Blackout' through to 'Message Stick'.
About a Girl: Casey Donovan
- 2006
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Casey Donovan has sung her way into the hearts of a nation and become our Idol in the process. At just 16 years of age, she won Australian Idol, had a number one single, and launched her own album. From the Message Stick series.
Aden Ridgeway
- 2004
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Democrat Senator for NSW, Aden Ridgeway, is the second Aboriginal Federal Parliamentarian since Senator Neville Bonner. He says it was his goal to be a politician since he was a kid and tells us all about his journey and the people who have inspired and motivated him along the way. From the Message Stick series.
The Anangu Story
- 2009
- Documentary
- 2 x 26mins
- Status: Completed
In Part 1, we learn how 50 years ago secret atomic tests were carried out on Australian soil in north–western South Australia. The traditional Aboriginal communities of the region were to be moved for their own safety but somehow they were covered in radioactive fallout. Some of the local Anangu people suffered radiation poisoning and died and many are still enduring the effects of that toxic exposure today. In Part 2, we discover 25 years ago the Anangu People of South Australia were allowed to return to part of their traditional lands affected by atomic bomb testing in the 50s and 60s. After what was called a nuclear waste cleanup they moved back to the settlement of Oak Valley in the Spinifex country of their forefathers.
Ankula Watjarira
- 2004
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
In 1937, in the hills of the Musgrave Ranges, the Australian Presbyterian Board of Missions established Ernabella Mission a small community in the remote far north of South Australia. A school was opened and the local children taught to sing as a choir by the Superintendent Reverend Bill Edwards. The choir visited Adelaide in 1954 to see the Queen and sang at the opening of the John Flynn Church in Alice Springs in 1956. Sixty-four years later, with only a handful of its original members, the Ernabella Choir are joined by a younger generation of singers. This story follows them as they travel to the Adelaide Festival. From the Message Stick series.
Arafura Pearl
- 2003
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
ARAFURA PEARL is the story of Kathy Mills, a humanitarian and respected Aboriginal leader in Darwin, and the first female member of the Northern Land Council. From the Message Stick series.
Art Therapy
- 2005
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Statistics show that one in four women suffer from depression at some point in their life, and with men it's one in six. Experts in Indigenous health say it's double that in our communities. In this story we meet a group of remarkable women who are living day to day with mental illness, and how a small inner-city art class has changed their lives. From the Message Stick series.
Aunty Connie
- 2006
- Documentary
- 25mins
- Status: Completed
Connie McDonald is a woman who has been liberated by love. Born in the Kimberley with a debilitating bone disease, Connie's first baby steps broke both her legs. This is a love story and a tale of courage.
An Australian Story Book
- 2012
- Documentary
- 53mins
- Status: Completed
We take a look back at Message Stick through the eyes of some of the best filmmakers in the country, as they recall the stories that resonated with them and that affected them the most. Final episode.
Baamba Albert
- 2002
- Documentary
- 10mins
- Status: Completed
A profile of one of the great Indigenous performers, Baamba Albert, star of 'Bran Nue Dae', the musical. From the Message Stick series.
Babinda Boulders
- 2005
- Documentary
- 20mins
- Status: Completed
On the outskirts of the Queensland town of Babinda, there's a popular swimming hole known officially as Babinda Boulders. But to the locals, it's the Devil's Pool. So far, the waterhole has claimed 16 lives, all of them young male travellers. The area is cursed by an ancient Dreamtime legend. It's thought the spirit of a lovesick young woman haunts the swimming hole, luring young male travellers to their death because she's searching for her forbidden lover, a warrior from a visiting tribe. From the Message Stick series.
Back to Waiben
- 2011
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Intrepid IT guru, Majhid Heath visits the beautiful Thursday Island for the 12th National Remote Indigenous Media Festival and the Torres Strait Island Media Associations 25th Anniversary. He learns just how important Media is to Aboriginal and Islander practitioners and their Communities.
Bangarra Fire
- 2009
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Bangarra is Australia's leading Indigenous dance company and has been performing at the cutting-edge of contemporary dance for the last 20 years. From the Message Stick series.
Banjo Clarke
- 2003
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Uncle Banjo Clarke, who is also known as Rainbow Man or Wisdom Man, among other honoured titles, was a Gunditjmara elder who touched many lives. Before he died, he dictated his story to Camilla Chance. This program, produced posthumously, is a tribute to Uncle Banjo's life, a man whose compassion and spirit still inspires his community. An overwhelming message of Uncle Banjo’s life is love, not judging anyone. His character has been compared to Nelson Mandela. From the Message Stick series.
Barb
- 2003
- Documentary
- 15mins
- Status: Completed
Barb McCarthy is a well-known and respected identity in the Northern Territory. She makes her way into the homes of most Territorians every night at 7pm with the ABC's evening news. But what most people don't know about Barbara is what's going through her head as she walks the daunting Darwin ABC hallway on her way into the studio to read the news, or even what takes precedence in her life when she is not at work. From the Message Stick series.
Behind the Ball
- 2000
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
A light-hearted look at the off-the-football-field lives of three deadly WA footballers: veterans Chris Lewis, Dale Kickett and relative newcomer Clem Michael. This small window into these very talented men allows us to get a feeling of that which is the most important thing for them - family. We see how they unwind and relax with those important to them away from the glare and stardom that comes with Aussie Rules football. From the Message Stick series.
Beijing Boxer
- 2008
- Documentary
- 25mins
- Status: Completed
Ambitious 20-year-old featherweight boxer, Paul Fleming, is one of a select group of Indigenous athletes competing for Australia at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The charismatic 57 kg 'southpaw' hails from Far North Queensland and after seven years of dedicated training has realised a childhood dream of rising to the top of Australian amateur boxing. BEIJING BOXER charts Paul's journey, revealing the sacrifice and commitment that Paul, his family and friends have all made to see him succeed. From the Message Stick series.
Benny Walker
- 2012
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Musician Benny Walker's back-drop is the festival that his grandfather helped establish in his home town of Echuca. Offering a seamless blend of soul, blues, reggae and folk, singer-songwriter Benny Walker is without doubt one of Australia's most promising rising stars and 2012 is shaping up to be a big year for this young Yorta-Yorta man.
Best Foot Forward
- 2004
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Lester Bostock is best known and respected for his work in the industry of Indigenous film and radio. His guidance for young filmmakers and his tenacity and strength has contributed to the large number of Indigenous filmmakers in the industry today. Like so many of his generation, he came from humble beginnings and despite personal hardship he was active in taking up the fight for Indigenous rights and has always put his best foot forward. From the Message Stick series.
Best Kept Secret
- 1991
- Documentary
- 29mins
- Status: Completed
Archie Roach is a victim of theft. Stolen from his family by welfare authorities at the age of three, he was sent through a system of institutions and foster homes where all knowledge of his true family was obliterated in the name of assimilation. This program profiles the pain and triumph of this noted multi-award winning Aboriginal singer/songwriter and his tortured search for expression of his identity and culture. His music provides testimony to the problems, the pain, the heartache and the troubles of his people. Part of Blackout series.
Black Santa
- 1989
- Documentary
- 28mins
- Status: Completed
We follow Black Santa, Syd Cunningham, Head of the Aboriginal Welfare Unit, St Marys, NSW. He dons his Santa uniform and distributes Christmas presents to the local Aboriginal children. Part of Blackout series.
Blackman, White Australia
- 1991
- Documentary
- 28mins
- Status: Completed
Kevin Gilbert is a man with a vision. We learn what motivates this leading writer and voice within the Aboriginal rights movement. There has been change but not enough. Human rights are still being abused, legal rights are still being abused, genocide is still occurring. There's not enough change. Part of Blackout series.
Blacktracker
- 1997
- Documentary
- 28mins
- Status: Completed
From the early 1800s Aboriginal people have been used as guides and trackers by the police force. This century one of the most highly regarded was Sergeant Alexander Riley of Dubbo, NSW. In 1943 Alexander Riley was awarded the highest police award, the Kings' Medal, for distinguished services. During Tracker Riley's time with the NSW Police Force between 1911 and 1950 he was instrumental in solving several murder cases and finding numerous people lost in the bush. A great many people owe their lives to his exceptional tracking skills. A beautifully made and penetrating film that is a tribute to Tracker Riley, one of the greatest of all Aboriginal trackers as told by his family and descendants.
Blood in the Ground
- 2000
- Documentary
- 15mins
- Status: Completed
In the 1960s, a group of people in Melbourne dedicated themselves to an Aboriginal funeral service. They provided a means for those who had no money or resources to pay their respects to their deceased family members. This story, told by Gary Murray about his father John Stewart Murray, takes us back to those days and the people given the responsibility of driving the dead to their final resting places in their own country. From the Message Stick series.
Bob Maza
- 2004
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
There are few people whose name alone epitomises a life of achievement against all odds. Bob Maza's life was more than words can describe. He was a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, as well as an actor, writer, director, activist and mentor. From the Message Stick series.
Born in this Skin
- 2009
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Vernon Ah Kee is a portraitist, graphic and video artist. In 2009, Ah Kee will become one of a select group of Australians whose work will be displayed on the most important visual arts stage in the world, the Venice Biennale. Ah Kee is a prolific Brisbane-based artist. His work is provocative in the themes he tackles. Through his work he asks the question, 'What is Indigenous art?' Ah Kee's large-scale charcoal portraits of his family provide insights into past generations and Indigenous life in Queensland. From the Message Stick series.
Box
- 1997
- Short film
- 16mins
- Status: Completed
BOX is a black and white film about a young Aboriginal boxer rising above drugs and crime by means of boxing. Introducing Glenn Kelly, being trained by legendary Aboriginal boxer Tony Mundine in his gym in Eveleigh Street, Redfern. Written and directed by first time director Catriona McKenzie with the soundtrack composed by Stephen Francis.
Brick by Brick
- 2011
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Redfern, once synonymous with drugs, crime and dysfunction, is now the epitome of Sydney's inner city urban chic. New development and infrastructure has made Redfern attractive real estate, but not for Indigenous community members from the infamous Block, stigmatised by the problems of the past. The Block is on the cusp of development and complete renewal, but the question for those evicted residents remains when?
Briggs
- 2012
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Rock music and sports, sports and rock music, stick to that and life will run pretty smooth for you in Shepparton. So what happens if you like rap music, gangsters, the NBA and the thug life? Simple, you do what Adam Briggs did and make your very own Hip Hop album and see what happens. At the age of 14, Briggs knew there was something bigger than Australian rock music. There was something about rap that really pulled him in. Maybe it was the romanticised thug life, maybe it was the good beats that you could play in your room or maybe because it was so far from "Shep Life", it could help you dream.
Broken Borders
- 2006
- Documentary
- 2 x 26mins
- Status: Completed
It is estimated that today 80 per cent of Indigenous Australians live in urban environments. What impact is urbanisation having on Indigenous Australians and what does this mean for the future of Aboriginality?
Brook Andrew
- 2002
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Urban concept artist and Wiradjuri man, Brook Andrew, is constantly challenging perceptions of Indigenous identity and notions of colonialism in his artwork. He works in new media such as photography, film, installation and some of his latest works are in neon such as the flying boomerangs at Sydney's International Airport. From the Message Stick series.
Broome Hero
- 2005
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
We witness a heroic effort by a young Indigenous man back in World War II. Charles D'Antoine received a bravery award from the Dutch Government for saving two Dutch women when their plane came crashing down into the ocean, yet he's never been recognised by the Australian Government. This is his story. From the Message Stick series.
Building Bridges
- 1991
- Documentary
- 28mins
- Status: Completed
Focuses on an organisation called 'Building Bridges' which put together a series of concerts. These concerts were a combination of Aboriginal and white Australian artists who were dedicated to trying to build bridges between white and Aboriginal people through a common bond of music. Features a selection of music that was performed at the concerts and a vox pop of people who attended and performed. Part of Blackout series.
Buntoo Bunta
- 2000
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Bundoo Bunta is the Arabunna name for South Australia's Lake Eyre. In his own language Arabunna elder, Laurie Stuart, shows us his beautiful country and the unique attraction that this arid country holds. The russet colours of the desert are highlighted by the vastness of Bundoo Bunta and the mysteries of the mound springs. From the Message Stick series.
The Burden of Responsibility
- 2007
- Documentary
- 54mins
- Status: Completed
Three years ago the federal government abolished ATSIC, the peak Indigenous representative body and Message Stick examines the events leading up to that decision and the impact ATSIC’s demise has had on communities across Australia. Its absence has driven some communities to take matters into their own hands forming stronger local and regional structures to deal with the challenges that face them. But for others the loss of a national voice is still a cause for concern. From Message Stick series.
A Caring Culture
- 2007
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
On average, Indigenous people’s life expectancy is 20 years less in males and 17 less years in females than the national average. Aboriginal health is a complex issue and these statistics are impacted on by a history of intergenerational trauma. This story gives voice to those who are addressing these issues and working to close the gap in life expectancy. A CARING CULTURE takes a holistic approach to the question of why Indigenous people die younger and attempts to give answers as to how they can live longer. From the Message Stick series.
Carrolup Found
- 2005
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Recently unearthed in an American university, 30 precious paintings by the Aboriginal artists of Carrolup Settlement. Political activist Robert Eggington is now on a one-man campaign to repatriate rare ‘Carrolup’ artworks from the United States and some priceless prison artwork being held by the Western Australian Government. From the Message Stick series.
Cherbourg (100 Year Anniversary)
- 2004
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
One hundred years ago, the Chief Protector of Aborigines in Queensland set up what he described as a dumping ground for the lame, the halt and the incorrigible black criminals of the State. The place he was talking about was Cherbourg. These days, Cherbourg is a thriving community of 2,500 people, 200 km north-west of Brisbane. The community recently had its 100-year anniversary, but as you'll see, it was more a celebration of survival then a centenary. From the Message Stick series.
The Child Artist of the Carrolup
- 2003
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
In 1945, the Carrolup School of the south-west of Western Australia was flourishing. A Messianic school teacher, Noel White, with his wife Lily, had appeared. Through his open-minded attitude he nurtured the gifts and talents of the school children by introducing music and drawing. The pupils' confidence in their amazing gifts grew and they became the Carrolup Child Artists. From the Message Stick series.
A Close Shave
- 2002
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
In A CLOSE SHAVE we are invited into the life of a young Torres Strait Islander boy, who will make his transition from Boy to Man. This happens with the first shave, a traditional ceremony, that is performed on the mainland and in the Islands to this day. A CLOSE SHAVE is a timely reminder of the importance of maintaining cultural practices within a contemporary Australian setting. From the Message Stick series.
Convincing Ground
- 2007
- Documentary
- 2 x 26mins
- Status: Completed
The coast of Portland is the site of Victoria's earliest white settlement as well as the massacre of the Kilcarer Gundidj clan in a dispute over a beached whale in 1834. It took place on the beach of Allestree at Portland Bay, otherwise known to the local Indigenous people as the 'Convincing Ground'. From the Message Stick series.
Cos I'm Free: Cathy Freeman
- 2006
- Documentary
- 28mins
- Status: Completed
This film reveals Cathy's secret weapon, the real-life story of her life, the inspiration that made our golden girl of the track fly into the record books and into the nation's heart. This is her story. From the Message Stick series.
Customary Law
- 2003
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Every month in the Kimberley’s, traditional punishment takes place within Aboriginal communities. Aboriginal elders carry out their roles as protectors of their culture by implementing traditional methods of punishment. The elders from these communities explain that traditional lore is vital if Aboriginal culture is to survive the 21st Century. This documentary evolves around how the elders deal with trying to get their leadership and lore recognised by the English Common Law System. From the Message Stick series.
A Dancer's Journey Home
- 2010
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
After 14 years as Senior Principal Dancer for the San Francisco Ballet Company, Damian Smith takes a journey back to where it all began.
Darby
- 2002
- Documentary
- 25mins
- Status: Completed
In the 1950s and 1960s Darby McCarthy was one of Australia's leading jockeys in the regal sport of kings. From Cunnamulla to Paris and back again, Darby’s journey has been one of turbulent rides and amazing finishes. From the Message Stick series.
Destiny Deacon
- 2005
- Documentary
- 20mins
- Status: Completed
A profile of contemporary Indigenous artist Destiny Deacon, whose controversial work challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about Aboriginality. From the Message Stick series.
Doctors
- 2004
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
The Kongs know about hardship, racism, prejudice, discriminatory laws and more. Their family of doctors work in the field of medicine and dedicate their exceptional skills to their people. They are members of the Worimi people from the north of Newcastle. From the Message Stick series.
Don't Say Sorry
- 2004
- Documentary
- 6mins
- Status: Completed
Christine Jacobs describes how she triumphed over the abuse and shame she suffered as a stolen child.
Doris Pilkington
- 2002
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
A profile of Doris Pilkington, the author of 'Caprice', 'A Stockman's Daughter', and 'Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence'. From the Message Stick series.
Dot Collard
- 2003
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
International actress and storyteller, Dot Collard’s stage career began in 1985 when her brother, Aboriginal playwright Jack Davis, asked if she’d take the part of Gran in his play, 'No Sugar'. The fact she was 62 years of age did not stop her from exploring her passion for acting so late in life. Now in 'retirement', Aunty Dot shares with us a glimpse of her life before acting, times where prejudice and struggle were everyday occurrences. From the Message Stick series.
The Dreamers
- 2003
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
The story of three talented young Aboriginal people, their aspirations and their dreams to reach the top of their chosen field. But how have they fared? From the Message Stick series.
Education
- 1988
- Documentary
- 28mins
- Status: Completed
Looks at the education system in Australia and for the first time allows Koories to voice their opinions on their own personal educational experiences. They share with us their fears and hopes and heartaches in a system that is also failing white Australians. Part of Blackout series.
Embassy Days
- 2008
- Documentary
- 2 x 26mins
- Status: Completed
On Australia Day 1972, four young Indigenous activists arrived on the lawns of Parliament House in Canberra. They had little idea their small protest would turn into a major defining period of Australia's modern history. The Aboriginal Tent Embassy became a national voice for Aboriginal Australians, and played a major role in the creation of the first Australian land rights legislation. With rarely seen images and interviews, EMBASSY DAYS presents this raw and emotional time as it was captured. From the Message Stick series.
Empire
- 1997
- Documentary
- 15mins
- Status: Completed
EMPIRE, a visual and aural journey through the dark recesses of a decaying empire; the British Empire in Australia. Through stylised, minimalist images of decay, desolation and death, the film shows how the British have impounded Aboriginal society and country. The film is set to a soundscape composed by Antony Patros, produced by Supersonic and performed by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and Soprano Cinzia Montresor.
Faith Thomas
- 2003
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
In 1958, Faith Thomas was the first Indigenous person to be selected to play cricket for her country, the first Indigenous woman to be selected to play any sport for Australia and she remains the only Aboriginal woman to play international cricket for Australia. Faith was born in the Nepabunna Aboriginal mission in South Australia in 1933. Her mother, Ivy, was a traditional Adnyamathana woman from the Flinders Ranges, her father a German migrant. Ivy felt this wasn't the atmosphere for her baby so she placed Faith in the hands of two missioners at the Colebrook Children's home at Quorn. It was the other children at Colebrook who gave Faith her name and contrary to the views of some, she always considered that hers was not the stolen generation, but rather the chosen generation. From the Message Stick series.
Feelin' Kinda Deadly
- 2009
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Sean Choolburra has carved a niche as Australia's number one comedic entertainer. He has played at the Melbourne and Edinburgh Comedy Festivals and regularly tours Australia with his unique brand of stand-up comedy. Hailing from Townsville, Sean has an established career as a dancer and has performed all over the world with the Bangarra Dance Company. He is charming, cheeky and charismatic. From the Message Stick series.
Festival of the Pacific Arts
- 2008
- Documentary
- 2 x 26mins
- Status: Completed
Imagine getting away to a beautiful tropical paradise where you can be entertained by hundreds of the Pacific’s most talented artists and performers. Every four years that dream becomes a reality at the Festival of the Pacific Arts. From the Message Stick series.
Francis Tapim
- 2005
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Frangipani Land Forever
- 2008
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Until their retirement in 1995, the Mills Sisters - twins Cessa Nakata and Ina Titasey with their younger sister, the late Rita Fell-Tyrell - helped bring the music of the Torres Strait to the world stage. From the Message Stick series.
The French Connection
- 2007
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Musee Du Quai Branly is the new museum featuring Australia's Indigenous artworks in Paris, France. THE FRENCH CONNECTION follows the key Aboriginal artists as they prepare their works to be featured in this new museum. It explores the interesting challenges in translating the works from their remote Australian roots into a form that could be incorporated into a contemporary building in a major city on the other side of the world. From the Message Stick series.
From Freak Show to Big Top
- 2008
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Looks at the association between the circus community and Aboriginal people, dating as far back as the 1800s and up to the present day where circus groups are offering Indigenous youth new skills, confidence and even careers. From the Message Stick series.
From Little Things Big Things Grow
- 2004
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Vincent Lingari placed the Gurindji people on the map when they pioneered the land rights struggle in Australia. Nearly 40 years later, three young Gurindji students made a new history, drawing on their remarkable heritage to achieve an academic first. This documentary profiles the first Aboriginal students to buck the system and complete their secondary schooling entirely within their home community – an uplifting story about how committed teachers, students and community can successfully achieve educational outcomes and raise remote education standards. From the Message Stick series.
Games People Play
- 2001
- Documentary
- 15mins
- Status: Completed
A story about the Aboriginal protest during the Olympic Games. This special brings to life some of the voices and issues of Aboriginal peacemakers and protesters, who used the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games as a platform to send their messages to the world. We follow Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal activists and groups such as the Aboriginal Tent Embassy and the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council as they highlight issues that concern the Indigenous history of this country. From the Message Stick series.
Ganggu Mother
- 2004
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Getano Lui Jnr
- 2004
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
We travel to Yam Island in the Torres Strait to meet with Getano Lui Jnr, who has been both a prominent and, at times, controversial figure in both local and regional politics. From the Message Stick series.
Giving Voice
- 2009
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
The intervention into Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory has not had the best of publicity. In the two years since it was announced, not one new house has been built despite the hundreds of millions of dollars put aside for the purpose. No paedophile rings have been uncovered and the federal government's own review into the intervention's effect on alcohol consumption is mixed at best. Producer, Rima Tamou returned to the Northern Territory to hear fresh voices on the intervention. From the Message Stick series.
Green Warrior
- 2008
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Charlie Company is one of four companies from the 51st Battalion based in the Torres Strait. It is the most racially integrated unit in the Australian Defence Force: the soldiers, both black and white, are proudly united by the green of their camouflage uniforms. It's their job to detect threats before they can penetrate our vast and often remote coastline. Prepare yourself for battle alongside the Green Warriors. Part of Message Stick series.
Gurrumul - Son of the Rainbow Serpent
- 2008
- Documentary
- 2 x 26mins
- Status: Completed
A two-part documentary about a recent musical phenomenon coming out of Galiwin'ku on Elcho Island in north-east Arnhem Land, Geoffrey 'Gurrumul' Yunnupingu. Blind since birth, Gurrumul is a self-taught virtuoso of the guitar, piano and drums and was a member of the hugely successful Indigenous pop rock group Yothu Yindi. Since Yothu Yindi, Gurrumul formed his own reggae rock group Saltwater Band and more recently has gone solo with an album that went through the roof of the Australian music charts. Part of Message Stick series.
Harold Blair
- 2004
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Opera singer Harold Blair was born in Cherbourg, Queensland in 1924, and was destined for greatness. He was 17 and working as a tractor driver at a sugar mill in Fairymead, when his workmates coerced him into singing at a concert in Childers. In early 1945, Harold attracted a record tally of listeners’ votes when he appeared in the radio amateur hour talent quest. With that performance, Harold became one of the first Australian Aborigines to perform on national radio. From the Message Stick series.
The Healing Sounds of the Bungaran Orchestra
- 1999
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
Members of a classical Indigenous Orchestra formed in the 1940s retrace their memories by taking a bus trip back to the medical institution they were incarcerated in for having Hansen's Disease (leprosy). They played Handel, Bach and Beethoven with style and feeling. At its height the ensemble numbered no fewer than 60 players, all Indigenous.
Hula Time: The Seaman Dan Story
- 2005
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Travel to the Torres Strait Islands to meet Australia's oldest ARIA award winner, the irrepressible Seaman Dan. The popular musician takes us on a personal journey around his tropical island home and he introduces us to the wonderful world of 'hula jazz'. From the Message Stick series.
In Search of Archie
- 1998
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Aboriginal writer, Archie Weller, searches for proof of his Aboriginality, only to find there is no proof.
Jackie
- 2007
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
For more than a decade, Jackie Huggins has been pushing the reconciliation bandwagon, and for the last six years, she has been the national face and co-chairwoman of Reconciliation Australia. But after 14 years of campaigning, Jackie has signalled she is looking for a change. From the Message Stick series.
Jeffrey Samuels
- 2011
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Jeffrey Samuels is a renowned Indigenous artist. A scholar of the National School of Art in Sydney, his work and contribution to the Australian art world has been expansive and continuous since the late 1970's. He was also pivotal in the establishment of NSW Indigenous Artist co-operative, Boomalli. Throughout this observational and intimate portrait we meet a charismatic and complex character as he continues to create evocative and striking artworks with his latest being a painting of Linda Burney for the 2011 Archibald.
Joe Rock
- 1999
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
World War II was hard on the town of Broome in Western Australia. The threat of Japanese bombs meant that Indigenous townspeople were shifted out to Beagle Bay Mission and Lombadina, communities located around 120 km up the coast. But a chance breakdown of the mail truck between these two communities opened an opportunity for a young man named Joe Rock to walk the mail instead. And with the mail on his back and the sand between his toes, he started to walk along the old corrugated road. From the Message Stick series.
John Ahkit
- 2005
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Journey
- 1997
- Short film
- Animation
- 18mins
- Status: Completed
Mike, a 12-year-old boy, decides to leave his isolated town. He hitchhikes on a journey across a diverse and changed land. The journey causes Mike to relive fragments of the life he has left behind. Mike arrives at the end of his journey and realises it is not the end. It is not his home. JOURNEY is an experimental road story, with no dialogue and a beautifully composed soundtrack by Alistair Spence.
Justin
- 2002
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Justin Mosman is an Aboriginal Lawyer working for an Indigenous organisation in Cairns, Far North Queensland. As a young man Justin set off to play football for the Canberra Raiders. During this time he also started studying a law degree at the Australian National University. An ankle injury put him out of the running for a professional career in Rugby League, yet he stuck to studying, gaining his degree. From the Message Stick series.
Kate George
- 2004
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Born at the 494-mile peg of the Rabbit-Proof Fence, Kate George was three when she was placed in Sister Kate's, an institution that became her home. Through her attitude and determination Kate has turned her life around. Her life-long passion for justice for her people has led her down a path of politics and law. From the Message Stick series.
Kempsey Ball
- 2006
- Documentary
- 15mins
- Status: Completed
An Elders’ Debutante Ball is being held in Kempsey! The 'debutantes' are aged 42 to 84 and are being partnered by husbands, sons and grandsons – the youngest is 13. This story will give us the opportunity to reflect on the lives of some of these extraordinary women and to delve into universal themes of ageing, family and community. It is also a chance to positively portray elders as active, social people who like having fun within their community.
Ken Colbung
- 2004
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Ken Colbung was born at Moore River Settlement in Western Australia. At the age of six, after his mother died, he was taken to Sister Kate's. At 19, he enlisted in the army and served in Japan, and later, Korea. In the decades that followed, he took on many leadership roles in the Aboriginal cause, from land rights to conservation, to education, to the preservation of cultural identity and spirituality. From the Message Stick series.
Kev Carmody: Cannot Buy My Soul
- 2007
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Well-known Australian singer/songwriter, Paul Kelly, has brought together the cream of the Australian music industry to record the songs of Aboriginal singer/songwriter, Kev Carmody, as part of a tribute album to a man who's been called among other things, the 'Black Bob Dylan'. From the Message Stick series.
Kids and Culture
- 1991
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
The film follows a theatre group of young urban Aborigines from Brisbane as they journey to the Cape York Peninsula to spend time with traditional Aboriginal people, in a quest to find their Aboriginality. Part of Blackout series.
Koori Court
- 2005
- Documentary
- 15mins
- Status: Completed
This program looks at the Koori Court system in Victoria. The Koori Court was set up to help reduce the high rates of imprisonment within the Aboriginal community, and so far, it seems to be working. It works by bringing together Aboriginal elders and their cultural beliefs with the white legal system. From the Message Stick series.
Koori Knockout 1999
- 1999
- Documentary
- 15mins
- Status: Completed
Documentary from Dubbo in NSW, venue for this year's Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout. It's a game which has become a regular part of NSW Koori culture and an opportunity for family and community to get together. The Knockout is a fantastic event for Kooris in NSW and was a special day for Cronulla Sharks star David Peachey, who played alongside family members on his old ground in Dubbo. From the Message Stick series.
Lake Tyers Brigade
- 2003
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
A profile about the Lake Tyers community and the way the Indigenous women of that country have come together to unite in a fire brigade for the community. It follows the lives of the Aboriginal women who are the Lake Tyers Aboriginal Volunteer Bushfire Brigade. It highlights the achievements these women have made in directing their future as Aboriginal women and the empowerment that has come from this. From the Message Stick series.
The Language Man
- 2008
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
John Bradley was in his early 20s when as a new teacher he was sent to the remote Aboriginal community of Borroloola in the Northern Territory. For most of his adult life he has been working with the Yanyuwa, documenting their language and culture, and is now a fluent speaker himself … one of the last. Our journey is an unusual look at Indigenous culture - through words and meanings - and a record of change within one man. The untimely death of Dr Bradley's son uncovered a deep spiritual bond with the Yanyuwa that surprised even himself. From the Message Stick series.
The Last Post
- 2005
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
An Anzac tribute to the Indigenous war veterans who fought for freedom, yet were denied it upon their return. This documentary features re-enactments by acclaimed Aboriginal actor, David Ngoombuljarra. From the Message Stick series.
Leila Murray
- 2004
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
A tribute to a strong, courageous woman, Leila Murray and her family - her son Eddie Murray died in police custody in Wee Waa in 1981. This is the story of their search for the truth. From the Message Stick series.
Les Ridgeway
- 2005
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Les Ridgeway was a man on a mission. Literally. He was one of only three Aboriginal mission managers in NSW. Les and his family talk candidly about his controversial past. From the Message Stick series.
Lillian Crombie
- 2005
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
In every entertainer's life there is a single moment that they can remember where the penny dropped about wanting to entertain others for the rest of their lives. For Lillian Crombie this time was also the most horrific moment in her life. We travel back into Lillian’s past to discover the stories that she has only ever revealed to her closest friends. We discover where Lillian got her humour, her innate sense of comedic timing and the drama she has survived. From the Message Stick series.
Line in the Sand (Palm Island)
- 2006
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Its labels have included ‘dysfunctional’ to ‘violent war zone’, yet more than 3,000 Indigenous people living in near poverty refuse to leave Palm Island and have instead united in fights for justice and ultimately a fight for their home. The death of Mulrudji Doomadgee, nearly two years ago, marked the 147th black death in custody since the handing down of the Royal Commission in 1990. It brought Palm Island into the national and international spotlight, yet again. The world watched as an angry community reacted to the suggestion the death was accidental - they torched the police station and police residences. What followed was a ‘terrorist’ style operation where a ‘battalion’ of hooded police arrived in helicopters, to arrest the rioters and ‘secure’ safety to the island. From the Message Stick series.
Living Answers
- 2003
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Devastated by a soaring rate of youth suicide, the Indigenous people of Rockhampton decided to act. For the first time Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander people united, holding healing days and youth activities to promote life. On 2 June 2002, a massive crowd walked through the streets of Rockhampton and into the city for a smoking ceremony against suicide. It was an act of anger, sadness but mostly a ceremony to stop the deaths. From the Message Stick series.
Living Treasures
- 2003
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Paul Sampi is an elder from One Arm Point, in the north-west Kimberley region of Western Australia. He is of the Bardi people and is the Vice Chairperson of the Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Cultural Centre. Paul is also involved in the running of traditional ceremonies (singing and dancing). The Bardi people are of the sea, and some dreaming tracks of the Bardi people extend out to sea with ancestral beings embodied in the reefs and sandbanks. From the Message Stick series.
Lloydies
- 2004
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Lloyd McDermott was the first Aboriginal man to play international rugby for Australia, but within a year it was all over when he refused to play in South Africa as an ‘honorary white’. Lloyd went on to become a successful barrister and founder of the Lloyd McDermott Sports Foundation. This documentary is an intimate portrait of Lloyd and the foundation recipients, the ‘Lloydies’, as they travel to Thailand to compete on an international stage. From the Message Stick series.
The Long Grassers
- 2005
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Darwin has one of the largest populations of homeless Aboriginal people in the country. They're called the 'Long Grassers', people who sleep under the stars either by choice or circumstance. To the authorities in Darwin, they're a nuisance and a growing problem, so new laws have been introduced to deal with them. This program examines homelessness from the Long Grassers' perspective, and those that try to help them. NB: This story was produced prior to the 2005 NT Government elections. From the Message Stick series.
The Lost Ones
- 2004
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Academic Henry Reynolds and Queensland woman Bron Nurdin have never met, but they’re on the same journey. Both are trying to trace their Aboriginal heritage, their families and where they belong. Until they find it… they are the Lost Ones. From the Message Stick series.
Macumba Revisited
- 2003
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
John Macumba was born with cerebral palsy, in the remote central desert of the Pitjanjatjara Lands, and later fostered to a white family in Adelaide where his foster father was a highly principled man from whom Macumba learnt to persevere against the odds. As a man, John returned to the desert and went through initiation before moving to Alice Springs where he founded the first Aboriginal media organisation CAAMA. He now runs his own production company Macumba Media, and has an MA in Communications. A charismatic character with a razor wit and a winning smile, John is a natural leader and born raconteur. From the Message Stick series.
Making a Mark
- 2004
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Linda Burney is the first Indigenous member of the NSW Parliament. For Linda, this is the realisation of a life-long ambition and a natural vocation progression. Linda Burney's entry into politics has been honed by the roles she’s taken on during her career as educator, campaigner, board member, director, president - and her commitment to her family, friends and to community activities. From the Message Stick series.
Malangi
- 1991
- Documentary
- 29mins
- Status: Completed
Looks at one of Australia's most celebrated traditional artists whose work has been exhibited in galleries and collected privately throughout the world. Part of Blackout series.
Many Nations, One People
- 1998
- Documentary
- 8 x 15mins
- Status: Completed
An introduction to Aboriginal Australia for school students aged 10 to 14 years.
Many Tongues, One Voice
- 2009
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
In the first years of settlement in Australia there were more than 250 recorded Indigenous languages. In just 220 years, that figure has dropped dramatically and only nine languages are considered safe with 20-30 languages at various levels of endangerment. This story looks at how communities are retrieving their dormant languages from historic books and journals and early film and audio recordings, and maintaining those languages through promoting and teaching not only Aboriginal youth but all Australians. From the Message Stick series.
Marjorie Woodrow
- 2004
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
At 78 years, Marjorie Woodrow is a bright, intelligent, articulate, warm woman who many years ago, promised her old mates that she would 'fight on for our wages'. She has become one of the predominant figures involved in the NSW stolen wages claim. From the Message Stick series.
Mark Bin Bakar: The Man Behind Mary G
- 2010
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
Mark Bin Bakar, the creator of the outrageous, hilarious Indigenous icon Mary G, has worked tirelessly to better the position of Aboriginal people in today’s modern society. Like many comedians, though, his life has been both painful and testing. For services to his community he received the 2008 Western Australian of the Year Award. He says that being a public figure, a link between his community and the mainstream has, at times, added to the hardship. But through laughter there is healing.
Marloo's Blues
- 2005
- Documentary
- 15mins
- Status: Completed
A profile of blues singer Marlene Cummins, a woman who not only sings the blues, she’s lived the blues. From the Message Stick series.
Matthew Doyle
- 2006
- Documentary
- 23mins
- Status: Completed
Matthew Doyle is a musician, dancer, man of culture, yet he grew up in the city not even knowing he was Aboriginal. This is his story. From the Message Stick series.
Meeting Ms Right
- 2009
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
MEETING MS RIGHT is a whirlwind day-in-the-life expose of Dr Anita Heiss. She's fabulous, she's glamorous and she knows how to match her wit and intellect with her designer shoes. When she's not too busy putting together groundbreaking works such as the 'Macquarie Pen Anthology of Aboriginal Literature' and churning out best-selling novels, Anita likes to head back home to Matraville, in Sydney's South, with her family and friends. From the Message Stick series.
Men's Business
- 2007
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Recently in the media we have seen a political debate rage in regards to sexual abuse and domestic violence within Aboriginal communities. Many members of the Aboriginal community felt that the portrayal by the mainstream of Aboriginal men and their communities was sensational, and not entirely truthful. MEN'S BUSINESS is a confronting episode where we ask a group of Aboriginal men to respond to the issues raised within the mainstream media, and the result is a very moving and emotional story. From the Message Stick series.
The Mighty Alau Eagles
- 2004
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
How a new incentive scheme lead a rugby team in the Northern Peninsula area of Cape York straight to the grand final and kept its players on the straight and narrow. From the Message Stick series.
Miss Coolbaroo
- 2005
- Documentary
- 8mins
- Status: Completed
Monica Jones returns to Government House ballroom where, as 'Miss Coolbaroo', she was belle of the ball 50 years before. MISS COOLBAROO is a haunting biography of hope, loss and courage.
Murray, Life and Death
- 2006
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
An investigative film on the views of the traditional owners who share the mighty Murray River and the influence they have on the river's future.
NAISDA Dreaming
- 2008
- Documentary
- 2 x 26mins
- Status: Completed
NAISDA DREAMING follows a group of young Indigenous dance students on an inspiring journey. Their classroom is moved from rehearsal rooms at NAISDA Dance College, near Sydney, to the bush and red earth of a remote homeland in Arnhem Land. To learn the local dance they need to experience traditional Yolngu culture first-hand. Some of them are originally from remote communities and are keen to return to the bush, while others have never been camping, let alone fishing or hunting before. Cut off from family, phones, the internet and TV, how will they handle adjusting to life in the bush, where the nearest shop is a plane ride away? From the Message Stick series.
The National Black Theatre
- 2012
- Documentary
- 28mins
- Status: Completed
The National Black Theatre of Redfern has left a lasting legacy on national politics, social welfare and the Australian arts scene.
Nature Nature
- 2004
- Documentary
- 15mins
- Status: Completed
A profile story on Henry Phinesea, a highly accomplished didgeridoo player who is blind. It traces the hardships Henry faces as well as the wonderful music he makes as a blind musician. From the Message Stick series.
NC Viper
- 2012
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Message Stick takes a look into the life of Neil Coyne aka NC Viper - the only professional Noongar wrestler working in Perth. In addition to wrestling, NC Viper is a father to six kids, an actor, part-time radio DJ, and runs workshops emphasising a positive lifestyle. Viper is also a crowd favourite - fighting for good not only in the wrestling scene, but also in Western Australia's Noongar community.
Norforce
- 2003
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Norforce, in Australia's Top End, is an important military unit with a history that spans as far back as 1942. Today, over half the soldiers are Aboriginal and their communities consider them as protectors of Aboriginal land. From the Message Stick series.
Oceans Apart
- 1991
- Documentary
- 29mins
- Status: Completed
A documentary about three Aboriginal women: Rosalie in her mid-fifties, grew up on a reserve in La Perouse and now works as an administrator for the performing arts at the Australian Council; Margaret in her mid-thirties, a tribal/urban woman from Northern Territory, is now a lecturer in Aboriginal Studies at the University of Technology; and 18-year-old Britta who was adopted at birth and raised in Denmark, and is now working as a radio journalist and community radio broadcaster. Each of the women reflects various perspectives of themselves as Aborigines and as women, according to their family backgrounds and political influences that surround other Aboriginal women in their peer group. Part of Blackout series.
One Mile Dam
- 2004
- Documentary
- 15mins
- Status: Completed
In the heart of Darwin lies a small Aboriginal community, neglected and fighting for its rights of ownership. This is the story of unsung hero, David Timber, and his fight for basic human rights. The community is one mile from the centre of town, nestled in amongst huge fuel tanks and newly developed apartment blocks. The houses are made of tin, which do little to protect residents from the heat of the build-up or the rain of the dry season. From the Message Stick series.
One People Sing Freedom
- 1988
- Documentary
- 50mins
- Status: Completed
On 26 January 1988, some 40,000 Aboriginal people and their supporters journeyed from all corners of the country, by foot, road, train and air, to march in Sydney on the 200th anniversary of the white 'invasion' of their country. This documentary records the events of that remarkable day, when the silent march began at Redfern Park and ended in Hyde Park in the centre of Sydney. Narrated by Aboriginal actor/comedian Ernie Dingo.
Orphanage Girl
- 2002
- Documentary
- 15mins
- Status: Completed
We meet Agnes Martin who grew up in Beagle Bay's orphanage in Broome during the pearling days. From the Message Stick series.
Pecan Summer
- 2009
- Documentary
- 3 x 27mins
- Status: Completed
Deborah Cheetham has forged an impressive career as an Indigenous soprano, actor and author since making her highly acclaimed international debut just over 10 years ago. Of her many projects, perhaps none are as close to her heart as her current endeavour – Artistic Director of the opera, ‘Pecan Summer’. But, not only is Deborah writing the opera’s score and libretto – she’s also been scouring the country looking for emerging classically trained Indigenous singers to take on the challenge of performing what will be Australia’s first Indigenous opera.
Peena Geia
- 2003
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Peena Geia is a respected elder, voluntary worker and Justice of the Peace on Palm Island. In 2002, she joined the 13-member Indigenous women’s advisory group which advises the federal government on the needs of Indigenous women. She’s the first Justice of the Peace of the Palm Island Justice Group and sits on the Palm Island Bench with visiting magistrates. Peena works tirelessly for her community to ensure that it continues to grow in positive affirming ways. From the Message Stick series.
The Pelican Brief
- 2007
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
Life for Indigenous people on Cape York isn't always smooth sailing. But for the community of Hopevale, the future is looking a little brighter thanks to a Melbourne man and his catamaran. After receiving an SOS letter that highlighted a spate of suicides on Hopevale, Peter Malcolm decided to embark on a journey north to help troubled youth. From the Message Stick series.
Pemulwuy: A War of Two Laws part 1
- 2010
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
PEMULWUY charts the history of Australia's first ever Aboriginal resistance fighter. From his first encounter with the British in Botany Bay, to his 12 year war against the establishment, to his eventual demise in 1802 in Parramatta where he was finally beheaded. The program exposes one of Australia's forgotten histories and an unsung hero of the Bidgigal people of the Dharug language group of Sydney.
Pemulwuy: A War of Two Laws part 2
- 2010
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
PEMULWUY will chart the history of Australia's first ever Aboriginal resistance fighter. From his first encounter with the British in Botany Bay, to his 12 year war against the establishment, to his eventual demise in 1802 in Parramatta where he was finally beheaded. The program will attempt to expose one of Australia's forgotten histories and an unsung hero of the Bidgigal people of the Dharug language group of Sydney.
Peter Coppin
- 2004
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
The remarkable Pilbara elder and top lawman, Peter Coppin (Kangkushot) recounts his role in leading Australia's longest running workers strike in 1946. It was also the first ever by Aboriginal pastoral workers. From the Message Stick series.
Pole Position
- 2012
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Twenty-six-year-old Matty Shields shot to fame after walking onto the Australia's Got Talent stage in his underwear to perform a pole dance routine.
Postcards from Pormpuraaw
- 2008
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
Producer Jeremy Geia has travelled to some of the most beautiful places in Australia, but it wasn't until he came to Pormpuraaw that he understood what heaven on earth was. From the Message Stick series.
Posts In The Paddock
- 2012
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
MESSAGE STICK revisits the story of Jimmy Governor, a former police tracker turned murderer who was pushed to the edge by a cruel and unjust society of the day. The story is told through elements of actual events and the visually moving theatre production 'Posts in the Paddock', played out by family members of both Jimmy Governor and his victims.
The Professor
- 2009
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Professor Marcia Langton has had a much publicised career. She is known for her work in several academic fields and as an advocate for Indigenous rights, social justice, and Indigenous artistic expression. The Professor is a frequent media commentator, and serves on various high-level committees on Indigenous issues. This story explores Marcia's life and career and examines the influences and experiences that have shaped her. From the Message Stick series.
Remember Finnis
- 2001
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Follow two people's journey back to a part of their past. Arabunna elders, Laurie Stuart and Ken Buzzacott, revisit Finnis Springs station, 30 km west of Lake Eyre (Bundoo Bunta) south, where they grew up and went to school from the 1930s. The place is abandoned except for some dilapidated buildings and old car wrecks. However, the old mission settlement still holds some good memories for these two men. From the Message Stick series.
Rest in Peace
- 2006
- Documentary
- 15mins
- Status: Completed
NSW Health Department Centre for Aboriginal Health has set up a phone inquiry line to assist Indigenous families with the repatriation of human tissue belonging to loved ones retained after hospital or coronial autopsies. The NSW Human Tissue Inquiry Project is the state’s response to the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Committee and Australian Health Ethics Commission recommendation of 2001. NSW Health is the only jurisdiction to have acted with a looming deadline of March 2007 before all remains are to be cremated. From the Message Stick series.
Richard Bell
- 2004
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Richard was a leader in the first group of urban Indigenous artists whose work provided a means of expression during the lead up to the 1988 Bicentenary of white Australian settlement. During this time, Richard focused on challenging non-Indigenous artists who appropriated Indigenous imagery in their work and the perceived notions of traditional and modern Indigenous art. His work also addresses contemporary issues such as religion, art and politics. Richard’s works examine the historical treatment of Aboriginal people after European settlement and express his response to issues of oppression, frustration and discrimination. From the Message Stick series.
Richard Frankland
- 2004
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Appointed as senior advisor to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody at the age of 25, Richard Frankland has worn many labels over the years. His experiences were later manifested into film and plays. From the Message Stick series.
Ruby Hunter: A Precious Woman
- 2010
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
A tribute to the late, great Ngarandjerri singer and songwriter Ruby Hunter featuring archival interviews with Ruby and her life partner, Archie Roach, and many of the songs that made them both famous. It tells the story of her life and career from institutionalised stolen child, to living on the streets, meeting Archie and developing a national and international musical career. This precious woman passed away aged just 54, but this tribute reminds us that she left a great legacy of songs, stories and inspiration.
Saltwater Freshwater
- 2002
- Documentary
- 20mins
- Status: Completed
May Torres tells her story about being a Saltwater Freshwater woman. She tells how she has taken over the role of her husband and why. She shares with us how hard it has been in regard to being accepted into the seaside culture and how she deals with it. How does she stand with her freshwater culture and how does she nurture it? It seems impossible to be able to be a good hunter from two different regions, but May is. From the Message Stick series.
Scars: A Stolen Vision
- 2003
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Melbourne has always been considered the arts city, a unique commission of Indigenous works in the public arena was done to promote the excellence of arts. The intention of SCARS: A STOLEN VISION was to utilise a traditional symbol of Indigenous life in a contemporary manner, and to help the public to reflect on the emotional and spiritual scars of Indigenous people and give a sense of pride as a nation. From the Message Stick series.
Scholar, Athlete, Warrior - Tribute to Dr Kumantjayi Perkins
- 2000
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
The remarkable life of Dr Kumantjayi Perkins is remembered on Message Stick, focusing on his achievements including the 1965 Freedom Ride, his sporting life and his political career. Footage of Kumantjayi's State Funeral at the Sydney Town Hall is featured in this special tribute. SCHOLAR, ATHLETE, WARRIOR brings home the emotion of a nation's loss and the loss of a leader who walked alongside his people. From the Message Stick series.
Shellie Morris Swept Away
- 2007
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Shellie Morris is a Darwin-based singer and songwriter, who was born in Sydney and adopted out to a non-Indigenous family at birth. In her younger years she learnt the flute, piano and organ, and as a young adult was trained in opera. In the late 1990s she moved to Darwin to learn more about her Indigenous family, and it was there that she found her purpose in life as a singer, which later led her to hone her craft at the Northern Territory University. From the Message Stick series.
Shellie Morris Swept Away
- 2009
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Singer Shellie Morris was born in Sydney and adopted out to a non-Indigenous family at birth. In her younger years, she learnt the flute, piano and organ as well as being operatically trained. In the late 1990s, she moved to Darwin to learn more about her Indigenous family and it was here that she found her purpose in life. From the Message Stick series.
Shifting Shelter 1
- 1997
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
From a cold industrial landscape we travel to the country of northern NSW where we meet four Indigenous teenagers. We intimately learn their dreams, their lives and most importantly hear their voices. These four unique people live in a world of constant influence, where the shelter which surrounds them is constantly shifting. The film gives a voice to four young survivors of assimilation and offers a penetrating insight into the lives of Australia's indigenous youth, as they search for a sense of purpose in a forever 'shifting shelter'.
Shifting Shelter 2
- 2000
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Five years ago award-winning Aboriginal filmmaker, Ivan Sen, recorded the lives of four Indigenous teenagers growing up in small towns in north-western NSW. SHIFTING SHELTER 2 catches up with our four subjects, now in young adulthood. The portraits painted are deeply poignant, totally vulnerable and all of their dreams are on a knife-edge.
Shifting Shelter 3
- 2006
- Documentary
- 60mins
- Status: Completed
SHIFTING SHELTER shows the lives of four young Aboriginal people in Australia's rural NSW. Their lives are documented from 1995 to 2005. Ivan introduced us to Cindy, Danielle, Ben and Willie; watch as their lives unfold.
Sights Unseen: Pictures by Michael Riley
- 2008
- Documentary
- 2 x 26mins
- Status: Completed
The late Michael Riley is one of the most important contemporary Indigenous visual artists of the past two decades. Over his 20-year career he created an impressive body of work ranging from black and white portraiture to film, video and large-scale digital photography. This two-part special is an intimate account of Michael’s short but prolific life. Riley not only looked at the world through a different lens, he wanted the world to view what he saw. His films and photographs challenge perceptions of Indigenous life, particularly in eastern Australia.
Sisters in the Black Movement
- 2003
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
On 27 May 1967, Australian citizens voted to include Aboriginal people in the census, and to allocate Commonwealth funding towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This documentary talks to the women who were a part of the movement leading up to the referendum about their experiences at that time. The strength of the 'fire in the belly' is still in these women today, as we bring them together to talk about their experiences of over 30 years ago. From the Message Stick series.
Sisters on the Move
- 2004
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
'Set your dreams in the stars and catch every one of them.' This is the advice that Nana has instilled in her two starstruck granddaughters, Nakkiah Lui and Lowanna Gibson. From the Message Stick series.
The Songman
- 2004
- Documentary
- 15mins
- Status: Completed
A profile of an important Aboriginal elder from the Kimberley region of Western Australia. His whitefella name is Scotty Martin, but he's traditionally known as Nyalgodi. Nyalgodi is a traditional songman of the Dreamtime. He composes songs that come to him in his dreams, given to him by his ancestors. Nyalgodi is sharing these songs with us because his greatest fear is that noone from his homeland will continue creating these 'Junas' - traditional dance songs. From the Message Stick series.
Spinifex Man
- 2009
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Trevor Jamieson was born in Subiaco, Western Australia. Trevor is a charismatic and experienced theatre and film actor, as well as a talented didgeridoo player, guitarist, singer, dancer and storyteller. Filmmaker Allan Collins caught up with Trevor between filming for the new series of 'The Circuit' and the upcoming feature film 'Bran Nue Dae'. It's a rare and intimate insight into the life of Trevor Jamieson, SPINIFEX MAN. From the Message Stick series.
Spirituality
- 1989
- Documentary
- 28mins
- Status: Completed
SPIRITUALITY is a revolutionary look at Aboriginality and Koori cultural spiritual beliefs prior to 1788. It tells of the breakdown when the white man came, it questions Christian ethics and how the Christian doctrine destroyed the performing culture, but not the spiritual culture. Part of Blackout series.
Stephen Hagan
- 2005
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Stephen Hagan is the former government bureaucrat who became a household name when he fought to have the word 'Nigger' removed from a Toowoomba sports stadium. He took his fight all the way to the United Nations. This profile looks at his turbulent life, what happened in his past to motivate him and what effect his controversial campaign has had on his family. From the Message Stick series.
Strokes of Colour
- 2004
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Artist and textile designer Bronwyn Bancroft has been achieving her desires since she was a young woman and 'making art'. Her works have been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout Australia and overseas in Scotland, Germany, Canada, the US, New Zealand, Argentina and many more. And in 1987, an all Aboriginal group of models and designers showcased their designs in Paris. From the Message Stick series.
Tamworth
- 2004
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Explores the deep, rich Aboriginal history of Australia's most popular country music festival. From the Message Stick series.
Thancoupie
- 2004
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Thancoupie is known internationally for her pottery. But it is the strength of her country, Weipa, that grounds her. As the first preschool teacher from that area in the late 1960s, she has stepped back into education to teach the youth of her homelands. From the Message Stick series.
That Ole Mac Blagic
- 2004
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
Bruce McGuinness was a member of the steering committee that established the Victorian Aboriginal Education Consultative Group in 1976 and became its inaugural Executive Officer. When he left that position in 1978, he focused on Aboriginal health and helped to establish the Koori Kollij in Melbourne. He was a well-respected man, with great community vision who still continues to inspire and motivate others. This is Bruce McGuinness. From the Message Stick series.
Tombstone Opening
- 2002
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
People deal with grief in different ways and in Torres Strait Island culture, a tombstone opening and unveiling symbolises the point where sorrow meets happiness. In this documentary, ABC Radio National broadcaster Nancia Guivarra takes us to her grandfather's tombstone opening in Cairns to join her family's ceremony and the celebrations that mark the end of their mourning period. From the Message Stick series.
Tommy
- 2004
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Tommy Lewis' acting career led him to international acclaim and back again. His role in the film, 'The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith' took young Tommy into a world he wasn't ready for. Today his stage is the community of Beswick. From the Message Stick series.
Troubled Waters
- 2007
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
The Queensland Government's decision to forcibly reduce the state's number of shire councils has met with widespread opposition but its repercussions may be most keenly felt in the Torres Strait Islands. Under the proposals, one regional authority would replace the 17 Island Councils but there would be community boards on each of the islands. Locals fear amalgamation would lead to a loss of employment, services autonomy and cultural identity. From the Message Stick series.
Uncle Max: The More I Give the More I Keep
- 2010
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
'The more I give… the more I keep' is the philosophy of Uncle Max Dulumunmun Harrison, a Yuin elder from Narooma on the South East Coast of Australia. People come to his workshops from around the world to learn how to reconnect with the land and to be mentally, physically and spiritually healed. As an elder, it's crucial to Yuin cultural survival that Uncle Max pass on these ancient customs and beliefs. Max believes that the more people he teaches, whether it's through his recently published book or workshops, the more likely he will succeed in leaving a legacy for his grandchildren and everyone interested in caring for country.
Upstaging
- 2004
- Documentary
- 20mins
- Status: Completed
Leah Purcell has played a lot of roles within the arts – singer, actor, writer, choreographer, producer, director. She has performed the spectrum of the arts – theatre, film, television. A multimedia spirit brimming with energy, creativity, intelligence. From the Message Stick series.
The Urab Dancers
- 2012
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
THE URAB DANCERS are serving as a beacon for the young Porumagul people of the Torres Strait who believe that language and dance have something to offer them, and indeed that they have something to offer in return. They have shared their cultural performances and stories with wider audiences and this year plan to undertake a tour to several destinations on mainland Australia. What's in store for a group of young people who are now realising their cultural past holds the key to their very modern future?
Us Mob
- 2005
- TV drama
- 7 x 10mins
- Status: Completed
US MOB transports young people from around the globe to the little known world of Hidden Valley, in the central deserts of Australia through the eyes of Aboriginal teenagers Charlie, Jacquita and their bush community friends. On this journey they encounter extraordinary challenges, exciting cultural experiences and dramatic external forces that shape the lives of Town Camps kids in Alice Springs. From building bush bikes to hunting traditional foods, from skin name relationships to sacred sites, from child deafness and substance abuse to traditional ceremonies, US MOB explores the youth perspective and voice on all these issues with integrity, humour and drama inside a framework of Aboriginal community concern.
Vic Simms
- 2005
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
From his childhood on the mission at La Perouse, to singing his way out of jail, his decline into alcoholism, his three state tour, and mending a bridge with old mate Jimmy Little, Vic finally tells his story. From the Message Stick series.
Vote of No Confidence
- 2007
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Some legal experts and politicians have suggested that the changes to the Electoral Act will make it more difficult for Indigenous Australians to cast their vote at this year's Federal Election. The new changes mean first time voters must provide 100 points of ID on or before the day the election date is called. On top of this they must provide original documents and have their enrolment forms witnessed by an authority. This poses real challenges in remote communities where the local mail plane service is limited. This program focuses on the cultural, bureaucratic and geographical diversity of the Lingari Electorate in the Northern Territory, which is one-sixth of Australia's land mass. From the Message Stick series.
Wamud Namok: Indelible Link
- 2011
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
WAMUD NAMOK INDELIBLE LINK celebrates the life of distinguished Western Arnhem Land artist the late Wamud Namok AO.
Warrior in Chains
- 2009
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Roger Knox is a Gamilaroi man who was born at Moree, north-west NSW, and grew up at Toomelah mission near Boggabilla on the NSW-QLD border. Roger started his musical career as a gospel singer and in the early 1980s defied the odds surviving not one but two plane crashes, suffering burns to most of his body. With his band, Euraba, he has dedicated his life to sharing music, spending much of his time playing to neglected Aboriginal audiences in remote communities and prisons, as well as touring detention centres and Indian reservations in the US and Canada. From the Message Stick series.
Waverly's Dream
- 2006
- Documentary
- 25mins
- Status: Completed
Waverly Stanley is a young man with a big dream. He wants as many kids as possible to have access to prestigious private schools around the country, just as he did. This is his story.
Wayne's World
- 2005
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
Wayne Blair is an accomplished stage and screen actor with a long list of credits to his name. But it's not on the big screen that he hopes to make his biggest impression. It's behind the camera. Wayne Blair is one of this country's hottest Indigenous young writers and directors. His most recent short film, 'The Djarn Djarns', won the Crystal Bear award for Best Children's Short Film at the Berlin International Film Festival. From the Message Stick series.
We the Problem, We the Solution
- 2010
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
ABC sports commentator, Charlie King is a well known voice in the Northern Territory. Charlie is now using his voice and notoriety to advocate against family violence in Aboriginal communities across the NT and in the past three years has devised a unique and powerful strategy.
Who was Evelyn Orcher?
- 2004
- Documentary
- 27mins
- Status: Completed
In 1949, Evelyn Orcher was abducted as a 14-year-old girl from her NSW country home. Her family lived with the pain of not knowing her whereabouts for 31 years, until 1979, when Evelyn appeared on television in an attempt to find her family. The day after the program went to air, Evelyn received a visit from a woman she had never met. It was her niece. Evelyn had finally found her family, after 31 long years. An emotional family reunion followed, but after the emotion faded, Evelyn returned to her former life. The torment of the past had opened fresh wounds, and a new struggle had just begun. Part of Message Stick series.
The Wilma Reading Story
- 2011
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
Jazz singer Wilma Reading spent most of her career abroad with little fame or recognition in her own country. Throughout her 40 year career she performed with some of the hottest jazz musicians around the world, entertained thousands of fans, sizzled on screen and even tried her hand at acting. Now in her seventies, she has returned home to Cairns and spends her time imparting her musical knowledge to the next generation.
Wirringah Women
- 2010
- Documentary
- 30mins
- Status: Completed
The township of Lightning Ridge, in north western NSW, is most known for its elusive black opal. But late in 2009 it gained media attention for the large number of children forcibly removed from their homes by the NSW Department of Community Services. Local Indigenous women have described the removals as a modern day "Stolen Generation". To combat this issue they have set up the Wirringah Women's Group which is working to reunite families in 'The Ridge'.
Worimi Bight Back
- 2007
- Documentary
- 26mins
- Status: Completed
WORIMI BIGHT BACK is a story about the negotiation of an Indigenous Land Use Agreement over one of the most used and largest tracks of sand dune on the east coast of Australia, Stockton Bight. This film is about finding a healthy balance between the needs of traditional owners, the National Parks and Wildlife, commercial and recreational users and those who have made it home for over a decade. From the Message Stick series.
Writing Wrongs
- 2004
- Documentary
- 15mins
- Status: Completed
This short essay piece looks at the controversial issue of non-Indigenous academics and authors recording Indigenous stories and culture. From the Message Stick series.
Yowarliny
- 2004
- Documentary
- 15mins
- Status: Completed
Yowarliny is a Noongar word which means 'to sing' or to 'sing out'. We follow the lives of three talented young Aboriginal women from the West as they try to forge a career in music. The three women sing in Noongar. See this documentary to watch as their talents improve and they get closer to their dream. From the Message Stick series.

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